Chapter Eleven: One Shot Seduction
As the sun slowly brightened the dark, depressing bedroom of Peyton Sawyer, she automatically slung her arm around the empty half of her bed. She slowly came to and sat up in disappointment. She'd been dreaming of him again, of their easy loving friendship, and what it never would be.
After changing and pulling a brush through her messy curls, she got into her car and drove across town.
She hesitated slightly before ringing Brooke's doorbell. Peyton entered Haley's house without knocking or hesitation, but she'd never been as close to Brooke. Especially this summer, with Haley suddenly gone and the world suddenly broken into pieces.
Peyton cautiously pushed open the door when no one entered.
"Brooke?" she called. Heavy footsteps startled her.
"Peyton. Hi," said Lucas, coming into the room. Peyton blushed when she saw he was wearing nothing but his boxers.
"Hey, Luke. Is Brooke here?"
"No. Are you okay?" he asked, remembering how he'd been initially drawn to her.
"Did she tell you about Davis and Jake?" asked Peyton, her voice shaking. He nodded slowly.
"She said you were really troubled by it. But she doesn't understand why so much," said Lucas.
"I don't even. First of all, how can Davis? Wouldn't Nathan mind?"
"No. But that's not really what Brooke was wondering about," said Lucas.
"Yeah. I don't get it either. It's been driving me nuts all week, even though I know it shouldn't. I don't love Jake. I really don't. It's not like I thought I didn't, but it's suddenly been awakened. He told me he loved me and I shot him down. I have no feelings for him yet it's killing me," she said.
"You never knew he had feelings for you?" asked Lucas.
Peyton, not trusting her voice, simply shook her head.
"You know, I don't think that's true. It think you did know. And I think you liked it. I think you thought that if he wasn't in love with you, he wouldn't be around like you needed him to be. And now comes the terrifying thought that he isn't…" he said.
"I'm not a brat. I don't need everyone to love me," she said.
"I know. You just need him, and suddenly he's gone."
Peyton cracked a smile at Lucas.
"You know, I'm glad you're dating Brooke. She needs someone as sane as you to analyze her craziness. It's so weird, the idea of Jake being madly in love with him. I mean, I was taller than him when we met," she said.
"I don't think it's so weird," said Lucas softly.
"Have you heard from Nathan?" asked Peyton, breaking the moment before it could begin.
"Just briefly. They went to a move premiere last night," he said, dropping a magazine in front of her.
Peyton stared down at the picture of her best friend on the arm of the man they both truly hated. Haley glowing with happiness, wearing a dress more expensive than any she'd ever worn. Haley with a very noticeable love bite on her neck.
"This is gross. Chris is going to freak when he sees it," said Peyton in disgust.
"Is he? I've barely seen the guy, and we've been here for almost two weeks now. What's their deal?" he asked.
"Haley thinks she's in love with him, she's sure he's in love with her, and equally sure that it gives him the right to treat her like crap. And every once in a while he pulls the romance card, like that stupid ring, and she jumps back into his waiting arms and everything's all good again," said Peyton bitterly.
"Is she happy?" he asked.
"You know, I have no idea. Because I'm pretty sure no one's seen a truly happy Haley. Ever," said Peyton. Lucas gestured toward the magazine again.
"I'm going to disagree with you there. Because that looks like a happy Haley to me," said Lucas. They both looked down.
"That doesn't make any sense either," she whispered.
"Love doesn't. And besides, have any of us seen a truly happy Peyton?" asked Lucas softly, looking deeply into her eyes.
"I don't know. What's happy? The vast majority of the time I've seen you you've been all intense and broody and underwear modelly," joked Peyton.
"Underwear modelly? I'm never going to live that down, am I?" he asked.
"Posing half naked for billboards? Like hell you are. But I guess our girl Brooke doesn't mind," said Peyton. She took a cautious step toward him.
"Not in the least," he said, looking down into her eyes.
"So Nathan's really an ass, isn't he," said Peyton, taking both his hands and pressing her bodies up against his.
"Uh huh," said Lucas, lowering his lips slightly to hers.
"You know, running off to LA and cheating on his girlfriend. You know what I'd do if I knew a guy like that?" asked Peyton. Lucas shook his head and she angrily slapped him across the face.
"I'd bitchslap him. You're dating my best friend you wanker," she said, leaving abruptly. Lucas watched her, his fear growing, one word going through his mind:
"Shit…"